Valve for pneumatic musical instruments.



No- 758,666. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

1']. DE KLEIST. VALVE FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

J @mm UNITED STATE Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT I OFFICE.

EUGENESDE KLEIST, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

VALVE FOR PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent 1 \To. 758,666, dated May 3, 1904. Application filed July f3, 1903. Serial No. 164,310. (I10 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE DE KLErs'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valves for Pneumatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to valves for pneumatic musical instruments, and more particularly to valves for pneumatic piano-. players. A player of. this kind to which my improvement is applicable is shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 726,701, granted to me April 28, 1903.

The object of my invention is the provision of a simple valve which can be cheaply constructed and which will freely adapt itself to any irregularities or imperfections of its seat due to warping of the parts or other causes, so as to insure a tight and reliable closure of the valve at all times and a prompt and sensitive action of the parts controlled by the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a pianoplayer containing my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the valvechambers and cooperating parts. Fig. 3 is a detached rear view of the exhaust-valve.

Similar letters. of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the construction shown in the drawings, A indicates the inclosing case of the piano-player, and B the keys or fingers operating upon the piano-keys G G and having the form of elbow-levers.

D indicates the motor-pneumatics, which are connected with the lower arms B of the keys by rods cl.

E is the main wind or exhaust chest, and c the duct by which it is connected with a suitable exhaust device. (Not shown in the drawings.)

Each of the motor-pneumatics D is connected with an independent valve-chamber or auxiliary exhaust-chest F by ducts g g, formed in wind-boards G G, a duct g formed in the main wind-board E, and ports g 9 formed in the front and rear Walls of the main windboard, as shown in Fig. 1. These valve-chamties of the seat formed by said wall.

bers are preferably arranged horizontally and communicate with the main exhaust-chest E and the atmosphere by ports h it", formed in their front and rear ends, respectively.

The exhaust and vent ports h it of each valve-chamber are controlled by oppositelyfacing valves I 1', preferably arranged within the chamber and seating against the end walls of the latter. The valves of each pair are mounted on a stem, preferably composed of a wooden body or main portion j, which carries the exhaust-valve I, and an adjusting-screw j, which carries the vent-valve and is screwed into the rear end of the body. The valve-stem is guided in openings formed in supportingbars 1' which bridge the ports 9 g.

Each exhaust-valve consists of a head or button flexibly connected with the front end of the main stem 7' by a short piece is, of cord, string, catgut, or other pliable material arranged lengthwise of the stem. In the construction shown in the drawings this flexible connection consists of a piece of ordinary string glued in openings formed in the front end of the wooden valve-stem and in a teat 2', arranged centrally on the back of the valve. The valve-stem has a rounded or convex front end which bears against the corresponding surface of the valve-teat when the valve is closed. By this construction the valve is securely connected with its stem and at the same time capable of a universal angular or swiveling movement on the same, permitting the valve to seat squarely against the end wall of the valve-chamber containing the exhaust-port and to accommodate itself to any irregulari- As the flexible connection between the valve and its stem is comparatively small in area and arranged centrally and lengthwise of the stem, it gives the valve an ample range of angular movement.

The face of the valve is provided with a packing i, of soft leather or any other suitable material.

To promptly close the exhaust-valve and open the vent-valve of each pair, a spiral spring is may be applied to the valve-stem between the exhaust-valve and the front supportingbar f The vent-valve I of each pair may be of any suitable construction; but the same is preferably capable of swiveling on the adjustingscrew j, so that it may adapt itself to any unevenness of its seat.

L indicates the usual tracker, M the traveling perforated music-sheet, and N the auxiliary or diaph agm pneumatic, which latter opens the exhaust-valve through the medium of a rod 0, projecting forwardly from the central portion of said valve and through the exhaust-port it. This rod terminates in an adj ustable head 0, which bears against the diaphragm of the pneumatic N. In the construction shown in the drawings the exhaust-valve is provided on its front side with a central neck or boss i in which the rod 0 is secured.

The arrangement and operation of the tracker, the music-sheet, and the pneumatic N are substantially like that of the corresponding parts shown and described in the Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to.

My improved valve is exceedingly simple in construction and can be produced at small cost.

I do not wish to claim in this application the spring 7: acting to close the exhaust-valve, as that feature is claimed in another application for patent filed by me on the 6th day of February, 1903, Serial No. 14:2,198.

I claim as my invention 1. A valve for pneumatic musical instruments, comprising a stem, a valve head or button, and a flexible connection between said head and the stem arranged lengtlnvise of the stem, substantially as set forth.

2. A valve for pneumatic musical instruments, comprising a stem, a valve head or button, and a cord connecting the back of the valve-head with the end of said stem, substantially as set forth.

3. A valve for pneumatic musical instruments, comprising a stem having a rounded end, a valve head or button having a rounded back resting against said rounded end, and a flexible connection between the back of the valve and the end of the stem, substantially as set forth.

4. A valve for pneumatic musical instruments, comprising a stem having a rounded end, a valve head or button provided on its back with a central teat, and a connecting cord secured in openings formed in said teat and the adjacent end of the stern, substantially as set forth.

5. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of a valve-chamber having a port, an actuating-pneumatic arranged opposite the port and avalve applied to said port anticomprising a stem, a valve-head, a flexible connection between the end of said stem and the back of the valve-head, and a rod, separate from said stem, projecting forwardly from said valve-head through said port and arranged tobe acted upon by said pneumatic, substantially as set forth.

WVitness my hand this 2d day of July, 1903.

EUGENE DE KLEISlT.

l/Vitnesses:

CARL F. (Si-urns, EMMA M. GRAHAM. 

